Former Congress MLA from Serilingampally Bikshapati Yadav and his followers staged a dharna at Gandhi Bhavan demanding that the Serilingampally ticket should not be given to the ally Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

Even as Mr. Yadav and his followers raised slogans, one of the followers slit his wrist while another tried to immolate himself leading to tension. However, other Congress cadre and the police posted there foiled their attempts. The cadre contention was that Mr. Yadav would win hands down if he was given the ticket.

Later, AICC secretary Madhu Yashki Goud came to pacify Mr. Yadav and said the seat sharing was yet to be given a final shape. He said all the BC leaders in the Congress and also TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy argued for Mr. Yadav’s case, and asked the cadre to be patient.

He agreed that the TTDP has asked for Serilingampally as a part of seat sharing of the Grand Alliance but the Congress was yet to agree to the proposal. Convinced by Mr. Goud’s assurance, Mr. Yadav withdrew the protest.